Chinese electronics manufacturer Xiaomi has revealed its plans of creating and launching its first car by the year 2024. In a recent Q&A session on Weibo, Xiaomi revealed that it plans to officially launch the car by 2026. In early 2021, the company also announced its plans of setting up an EV manufacturing plant in China. According to numerous reports, Xiaomi claims that its plant will have a capacity to produce 3 lakh electric vehicles annually.
Reportedly, Xiaomi’s electric car will utilize a MiOT Ecosystem and will likely be an SUV called the Redmi. Rumours suggest that Xiaomi will partner up with the automotive brand Bestune and use its T77 SUV as a base. The car will feature a Xiao AI voice assistant for added convenience and an overall weight of 1.5 tonnes.
Current Plans & Competitors
Reports and rumours suggest that Xiaomi has planned to invest USD 10 billion towards its electric vehicle plan. Currently, the electronics manufacturer has employed more than 10,000 people to work on the R&D of the project. Company CEO Lei Jun announced that he would lead the upcoming car division with a continued focus on mobile phones. Xiaomi states that it will construct the plant in two phases wherein it will add the headquarters, sales, and research offices.
The government-backed economic development agency Beijing E-Town’s WeChat account suggests the Beijing Economic and Technological Development Zone as the plant’s location. The other renowned Chinese electronics giant that’s rumoured to be working on a new EV is Oppo. Although, there are no current details as such regarding Oppo’s plans with regards to their own EVs. Rumours also suggest that American tech giant Apple has also made plans to work on a brand new EV.
Other News
In 2020, the electronics and smartphone manufacturer launched their new A1 and A1 Pro e-scooters for the Chinese market. Priced at INR 32,000 after conversion, the e-scooters achieved significant sales figures and reception from Chinese audiences. However, Xiaomi still has not confirmed whether they will introduce these e-scooters for the Indian market despite the rising popularity.
Also Read: Bookings for Kia Carens RV open on January 14, 2022
